Security Council Authorizes Mandate Extension for United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia,

The Security Council decided today to extend the mandate of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) until 31 March 2017.

Unanimously adopting resolution 2275 (2016), the Council underscored the importance of UNSOM’s provision of United Nations good offices in support of the Federal Government of Somalia’s peace and reconciliation process, with particular regard to the completion of State-formation and constitutional reviews, as well as preparation of an inclusive, free, fair and transparent electoral process in 2016 and universal elections by 2020.

Welcoming commitments by President Hassan Sheikh and the Federal Government to an inclusive and credible electoral process in August 2016, in line with the Mogadishu Declaration of 16 December 2015, the Council called upon all leaders of existing and emerging federal member states to cooperate fully with the Government in implementing it.

Also by the text, the Council underlined its expectation that there would be no extension of electoral process timelines for either the executive or legislative branches. It called upon all key actors and institutions in Somalia, including Parliament, to engage constructively to ensure progress on Vision 2016 before the 2016 electoral process. The Council stressed the importance of adhering to the political road map between now and 2020, in order to ensure one-person-one-vote elections by 2020.

The Council also underlined the importance of security-sector reform, particularly the rapid and effective development of the Somali National Army, including the planned and coordinated integration of regional forces, to help facilitate more effective army participation in joint operations with the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), thereby enabling federal security forces to take on greater responsibility in maintaining peace and security as well as protecting citizens. The Council welcomed the commitment by the Federal Government and emerging federal states to establish basic policing services across the country.

Strongly condemning recent attacks by Al-Shabaab and expressing serious concern over the ongoing threat posed by that terrorist group, the Council reiterated its determination to support efforts to reduce that threat, in accordance with applicable international law.

Reiterating its concern over the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Somalia, the high number of refugees and internally displaced persons and their ongoing eviction, the Council called upon the Government and all relevant actors to create the conditions suitable to the voluntary, safe, dignified and sustainable return of refugees and internally displaced persons, with the support of the international community.

The meeting began at 10:06 a.m. and ended at 10:08 a.m.

Resolution

The full text of resolution 2275 (2016) reads as follows:

"The Security Council,

"Recalling its previous resolutions and statements of its President on the situation in Somalia,

"Reaffirming its respect for the sovereignty, territorial integrity, political independence, and unity of Somalia,

"Strongly condemning recent attacks by the terrorist group Al-Shabaab, expressing serious concern at the ongoing threat posed by Al-Shabaab, and reiterating its determination to support efforts, including through a comprehensive approach, to reduce the threat posed by Al-Shabaab in Somalia, in accordance with applicable international law, including international human rights law, international refugee law and international humanitarian law,

"Paying tribute to the bravery and sacrifices made by the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and Somali National Army personnel in the fight against Al-Shabaab,

"Commending the role of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) in supporting peace and reconciliation, the state formation process and the promotion and protection of human rights in Somalia,

"Expressing its full support for the new Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of UNSOM, Michael Keating, and the new Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission for Somalia and the Head of AMISOM, Francisco Caetano José Madeira,

"Welcoming the holding of the Summit of the Heads of State and Government of the Troop and Police Contributing Countries of AMISOM in Djibouti on 28 February 2016, and their commitment to improving coordination within AMISOM,

"Welcoming the decision by the Federal Government of Somalia on an electoral model for 2016, commendingthe leaders of Somalia’s existing and emerging federal member states for their efforts to reach a compromise, and recalling the commitment of the FGS and the regional state leaders to deliver an electoral process in August 2016, alongside the development and implementation of a roadmap between now and 2020, in particular to reach one person, one vote elections by 2020,

"Underlining that a professional and inclusive security sector, with full respect for human rights and the rule of law, is a crucial part of long-term peace in Somalia and is important for conflict prevention,

"Welcoming the Federal Government of Somalia’s active engagement with the Universal Periodic Review process, encouraging full implementation of all accepted recommendations, condemning the continued violations and abuses of human rights and violations of international humanitarian law in Somalia andunderscoring the need to end impunity, uphold human rights and to hold accountable those responsible for crimes involving violations or abuses of human rights and violations of international humanitarian law,

UNSOM

"1. Decides to extend UNSOM’s mandate, as set out in paragraph 1 of resolution 2158 (2014) until 31 March 2017;

"2. Underscores the importance of UNSOM’s support to the political process, including the provision of United Nations good offices functions to support the Federal Government of Somalia’s peace and reconciliation process, in particular with regard to the completion of the state formation and constitutional review processes as well as preparation of an inclusive, free, fair and transparent electoral process in 2016 and universal elections by 2020;

"3. Welcomes the strong relationship between UNSOM and AMISOM, and underlines the importance of both entities continuing to strengthen the relationship further;

"4. Encourages UNSOM to enhance its interaction across Somali civil society, including women, youth, business and religious leaders, and to help ensure that the views of civil society are incorporated in the various political processes;

"5. Requests UNSOM to strengthen further and maintain its presence in all capitals of Interim Regional Administrations, subject to United Nations security requirements and the security situation, in order to support strategically the political, peace and reconciliation process, and security sector reform including by engaging with the Interim Regional Administrations in support of a federal structure;

"6. Requests the Secretary-General to conduct a review of the United Nations presence in Somalia after the 2016 electoral process, to ensure that the United Nations is properly configured to support the next phase of state-building in Somalia, and to present options and recommendations to the Security Council by 30 January 2017;

"7. Underlines the importance of rapid implementation of the provisions of resolution 2245 (2015) including continued efforts to enable UNSOS to respond swiftly to the operational demands in Somalia;

Somalia

"8. Welcomes President Hassan Sheikh’s and the Federal Government of Somalia’s commitment to an inclusive and credible electoral process in August 2016 in line with the Mogadishu Declaration of 16 December 2015,calls on all leaders of the existing and emerging federal member states to fully cooperate with the Federal Government of Somalia in implementing the electoral process, underlines the importance of implementing this commitment, and emphasizes the importance of reconciliation across the country as the basis of any long-term approach to stability as well as of continued progress towards the objective of universal elections by 2020, including by ensuring that the National Independent Electoral Commission and Boundaries and Federation Committee are operational without further delay;

"9. Underlines the urgent need to ensure progress without further delay in the Somali-led constitutional review process, in order to establish an effective federal political system and a comprehensive reconciliation process that brings about national cohesion and integration, further underlines in this regard the importance of supporting the peaceful and inclusive completion of the federal state formation process and providing effective mediation when necessary, and encourages close dialogue between the Federal Government of Somalia, Federal and regional administrations, civil society and the Somali public in this regard, with the continued support of international and regional partners

"10. Underlines the Council’s expectation that there should be no extension of electoral process timelines for either the executive or legislative branches and calls on all key actors and institutions in Somalia, including Parliament, to engage constructively to ensure progress on Vision 2016 before an electoral process in 2016;

"11. Underlines the importance of governing in a spirit of national unity in an inclusive manner, in order to ensure no further delays in the political process;

"12. Stresses the importance of adhering to the political road map between now and 2020, in particular in order to reach one person, one vote elections by 2020;

"13. Welcomes President Hassan Sheikh’s and the Federal Government of Somalia’s commitment to security sector reform, including commitments to increase transparency and accountability of security sector financial management and to agree on the national security architecture to deliver early implementation of a national security policy, and underlines in this regard the need to ensure full consultation with, and support from, all Federal states and Interim Regional Administrations;

"14. Underlines the importance of Security Sector Reform, in particular the rapid and effective development of the Somali National Army including the planned and coordinated integration of regional forces, to help facilitate more effective Somali National Army participation in joint operations with AMISOM, so that the security forces of the Federal Government of Somalia are able to take on greater responsibility in maintaining peace and security and the protection of Somali citizens, and further underscores the importance of completing a National Threat Assessment, and agreeing and endorsing the National Security Policy by May 2016, and calls upon Member States to support the Federal Government of Somalia’s efforts in this regard, as appropriate and in line with previous resolutions;

"15. Welcoming the commitment of the Federal Government of Somalia and emerging Federal states to establish basic policing services across Somalia, as outlined in the Heegan (Readiness) Plan in October 2015, including through UNSOM/AMISOM’s partnership and welcoming capacity-building for the maritime police force in line with resolution 2246 (2015) by the Federal Government of Somalia with the support of UNSOM, andlooking forward to progress towards its implementation;

"16. Encourages the Federal Government of Somalia to implement fully the Action Plan of its Human Rights Roadmap and establish its National Human Rights Commission and to pass legislation, including legislation aimed at protecting human rights and investigating and prosecuting perpetrators of crimes involving human rights violations;

"17. Underlines the importance of respect for international humanitarian law and the protection of civilians, especially women and children, by all parties to the conflict in Somalia;

"18. Reiterating its concern at the high number of refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs), and the ongoing forced evictions of IDPs in Somalia, stresses that any eviction should be consistent with relevant national and international frameworks, calls upon the Federal Government of Somalia and all relevant actors to strive to provide concrete durable solutions for internal displacement, and further calls upon the Federal Government of Somalia and all relevant actors to strive to create the conditions conducive to the voluntary, safe, dignified and sustainable return of refugees and IDPs with the support of the international community;

"19. Expresses concern at the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Somalia and its impact on the people of Somalia,commends the efforts of the United Nations humanitarian agencies and other humanitarian actors to deliver life-saving assistance to vulnerable populations, condemns any misuse or obstruction of humanitarian assistance, reiterates its demand that all parties allow and facilitate full, safe and unhindered access for the timely delivery of aid to persons in need across Somalia, underlines the importance of proper accounting in international humanitarian support, and encourages national disaster management agencies in Somalia to scale up capacity with support from the United Nations to take a stronger leadership role in coordination of humanitarian response;

"20. Reaffirms the important role of women and youth in the prevention and resolution of conflicts and in peacebuilding, stresses the importance of their participation in all efforts for the maintenance and promotion of peace and security, notes that women are not adequately represented in most of the assemblies of the new interim regional administrations and urges the Federal Government of Somalia and Interim Regional Administrations to continue to promote increased representation of women at all decision-making levels in Somali institutions including through realising the Federal Government of Somalia’s commitment to ensure the reservation of 30% of seats for women in the 2016 elections;

"21. Welcomes Somalia’s ratification of the Convention on the Rights of the Child 1989, encourages full implementation of the Convention as well as ratification of or accession to its Optional Protocols, and underscores the need to strengthen the legal framework for the protection of children;

"22. Requests the Secretary-General to keep the Security Council regularly informed on the implementation of this resolution, including through oral updates and no fewer than three written reports, with the first written report by 12 May 2016 and every 120 days thereafter;